sencillo
/senˈθiʝo/
The English phrase 'straightforward' can be translated into Spanish as sencillo. Wiktionary also lists llano.
Meaning: presenting few difficulties, easy (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| sencillo | /senˈθiʝo/ |
| llano | /ˈʝano/ |
The word is used to describe something that presents few difficulties or is easy. It can also be used to describe something that is simple, unadorned or humble.
Which one should you use?
While sencillo can mean 'straightforward' in the sense of being easy or uncomplicated, llano is often used to describe a person's character or speech as being straightforward, direct or plain, rather than just describing the difficulty of a task.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective sencillo must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, changing to sencilla for feminine nouns. The adjective sencillo takes the form sencillos when modifying masculine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/senˈθiʝo/
Did you know?
- The word llano is a linguistic cousin to the English musical term 'piano', as both share the same Latin root for 'flat' or 'level'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, sencillo is also the common word for 'small change' or coins.
- While llano describes a straightforward person, it is also the word used for a 'plain' or 'flatland' in geography.
Examples in context
- Hacer una clara separación entre "útil" e "inútil" es casi tan sencillo como trazar la delgada línea entre hielo y agua.Making a clean separation between the "useful" and the "useless" is about as straightforward as drawing the fine line between water and ice.This sentence illustrates how easy or straightforward a specific comparison can be using sencillo.Tatoeba #922674 by Shishir, translation #912970 by FeuDRenais2
- Sed prudentes como las serpientes y sencillos como las palomas.Be careful like the snake and straightforward like the pigeons.This sentence uses sencillo to describe a quality of being straightforward in a metaphorical sense.Tatoeba #6773178 by Adelpa, translation #11390364 by coyo7e
- Su respuesta fue directa y clara.Their answer was straightforward.
- El informe presenta los hechos sin rodeos.The report presents the facts straightforwardly.
- No necesito más explicaciones, ¡es claro!I don't need further explanations, it's straightforward!
- Háblame sin vueltas, ¿qué es lo que realmente piensas?Speak to me straightforwardly, what do you really think?
- El examen de matemáticas fue muy sencillo.The math exam was very straightforward.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are discussing a new task at work.
- Daniel¿Es difícil este nuevo proyecto?Is this new project difficult?
- ElenaNo, es un proceso muy sencillo.No, it is a very straightforward process.
- DanielMe alegra saber eso.I am glad to know that.
- ElenaPodrás terminarlo rápidamente.You will be able to finish it quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “straightforward” translations and entries sencillo, llano, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llano, sencillo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
